Freeport Cruise Report (Finally!)

Our weather window finally materialized for the rescheduled 3-day cruise to Freeport. And what a window it was! … with steady winds, moderate temperatures and fair skies.

Following a brief skipper’s meeting at noon on Friday, the fleet was underway by 1PM. Leading out the channel was Sea-Esta, followed by Harmony Isle and Mirage. Sundowner and O-B-Joyful took on fuel at 3 Amigos and were shortly on their way. Wind was out of the South and in the 15mph range for the entire afternoon. The sailing was steady and at a good pace, but always close-hauled.

O-B-Joyful took the lead – and a somewhat more direct route – by motoring to our first destination, the anchorage area immediately North of the new spoil embankment at Baffle Point on the Bolivar Peninsula. They arrived about an hour in advance of the sailing fleet.

The fleet sailed across the ship channel into East Bay using the new channel at marker 61, and proceeded a couple of miles eastward to the charted North/South cut across the Trinity River channel. From there it was another couple of hours and a few tacks to arrive at the anchorage. All boats were safely anchored by 6:15.

Following dinner, all crews gathered aboard Harmony Isle where we made Belinis (the frozen drink), told stories (only true ones) and watched the sunset (at 8:09) across the ship channel. Just before dark the dinghies shuttled everyone back to their boats for a early turn in.

All told, it was a rather peaceful night, with only a couple episodes of roll due to ship swells. The wind rose by another 5 mph, but by dawn it had settled back to a 12 to 15 range. Sun up was at 6:23 and the fleet was able to make ready and be underway at 7:30, even earlier than originally planned.

It was a very typical sunny and warm spring morning in the Galveston channel area with the ferries, a couple tows, two entering ships, a work boat, a shrimp boat … and the WYC fleet. We motored our way into the designated ship anchorage between the jetties and hoisted our sails. From that point all the way to Freeport it was spirited sailing, although an incoming tide of almost two and a half knots necessarily added about 30 minutes to our entry time into the Gulf. We made our turn toward Freeport at about 9:30.

With the wind steady out of the South at 15+ (with occasional gusts to 20) we held a port tack for the entire passage. The seas were in the 3 to 5 foot range, with a few 6 to 7 footers thrown in to heighten our experience. Our course took us about five miles offshore for plenty of green water, but not far enough out for blue. All boats were well-matched in speed and remained within 5 or 10 minutes of one another.

Sundowner and Mirage were the first to make the turn into the Freeport channel – at about 5:30. Harmony Isle and Sea-Esta followed shortly thereafter. Running against the waves as well as a one-knot upcoast current, the fleet had averaged about 5 knots over ground – or about 8 hours jetty to jetty.

Forty-five minutes later we were motoring into the Bridge Harbor Marina where they had five adjacent slips for us, as well as a dock hand to help with the lines and electrical hookups. All boats were secure and signed in by 7PM. Showers were the first order of business ashore, followed by some passage stories before we were taxied across the Surfside Bridge to Dan’s Waterfront Restaurant (a free and much-appreciated service that’s provided to visiting mariners by the restaurant.)

Cold drinks, appetizers and good seafood fare made for a pleasant and sociable meal at Dan’s. We lingered afterward (for at least two minutes) before requesting transport back to the marina. To put it simply: cruise participants were ready to turn in. It had been a long, but rewarding day. We enjoyed a peaceful night in the marina (in contrast to what they experience between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the fishing boats are in).

Sunday morning was bright and mild – a perfect Texas morning. We met at 7AM for a pancake breakfast on the marina’s dockside deck. It provided a relaxing and pleasant start for another enjoyable day on the coast. Without any rush whatsoever, all boats were away by 8:30. Sea-Esta was first, followed by Sundowner, Mirage and O-B-Joyful – all motorsailing in order to maintain a 6-knot average which translated to a planned 9.5 hour return.. A few minutes later, Harmony Isle departed with full intention of sailing the entire way, which was entirely practical to do – if it were not for a couple of encounters with shoals during the first hour of the trip (stories will follow, of course).

For the first hour or so all boats got a good boost in the ICW from an incoming tide. The lead boats maintained their distance ahead and when Harmony Isle reached the Galveston Causeway at 12:30, they were already heading up the ship channel with the 15-knot wind directly on their backs. Sea-Esta, Sundowner and Mirage reached Waterford at 4:15, with O-B-Joyful arriving soon thereafter – all well under the time planned for the 56 nm return.

Harmony Isle, upon seeing how pleasant the weather was remaining, opted to anchor out at Baycliff to enjoy one more night on the water. A weather window this good doesn’t just happen along every day, you know! (which could be the understatement of the year – thus far, anyway)

Vernon & Debbie

Harmony Isle

And the Fleet:

Sundowner – Ricardo & Carol, with guests Walter & Jeanette

Mirage – Gene & Maggie

Sea-Esta – Todd & Caryn

O-B-Joyful – David & Pat

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